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Seed Implants (Brachytherapy) Overview
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Prostate Seed Implant
(also known as Brachytherapy)
A growing number of men are choosing a radioactive seed implant for treatment of their prostate cancer due to its excellent long-term results and minimal side effects. Studies recently published in major medical journals have shown that with 13 years of follow-up, a radioactive seed implant is a very effective treatment for prostate cancer. If found early, more than nine out of ten men will be cured of their disease after seed implants.
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Prostate seed implantation is based upon the use of radioactive seeds, each smaller than a grain of rice. The seeds are made of titanium and contain a small amount of either radioactive palladium or iodine. After placement, the seeds will emit an intense amount of radiation to the cancer in the prostate, and only minimal radiation outside the prostate to other areas, such as the bladder and rectum. The seeds give off radiation for a few months and then are permanently inactive. Because cancer cells are much more sensitive to radiation than normal cells, they can be selectively killed.
Prostate implantation is a minor procedure performed in the hospital. The whole procedure takes less than one hour. Men typically report to the hospital in the morning, and return home a few hours later the same day. It is very common for men to return to normal activity within 24 hours. The entire procedure is done through very thin needles; thus there is no cutting involved and no stitches are required. The patient will receive either a light general or spinal anesthetic for the procedure, so there will be no discomfort from the needles.
| With an ultrasound in the rectum, a live picture of the prostate is obtained, and the needles can be accurately placed by the Urologist through the perineum (the area of skin between the testis and rectum). The Radiation Oncologist then inserts the seeds through the hollow needles. Following the successful placement of seeds in and around the prostate, all the needles will be removed and you will go to the recovery area. Once the anesthesia has worn off, the patient can go home. Many men return to their normal activities that next morning, and can return to work, playing golf, etc. |
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Most men experience only temporary side effects after the implant. Because there are no incisions, cutting or stitches required, there should only minimal discomfort after the procedure. In fact, most men do not even require any pain medicine. The most common complaint is temporary irritation of the urinary stream lasting only for a few months. It is common to experience varying degrees of increased urinary urgency and frequency. Some men notice some slight stinging when they urinate. Medications can be given to help alleviate most of these symptoms.
Long-term side effects following a prostate seed implant are generally quite uncommon. Unlike surgery, 99% of men are continent and completely able to control their urine. In addition, approximately two out of three men treated with a seed implant alone should preserve their sexual potency (ability to have erections). The likelihood of radiation causing any serious damage to any surrounding tissues outside the prostate is very low in our hands, at less than one in 100 men.
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